Kategoria BISAC: Science >> Space Science - Astronomy

Observations and physical concepts are interwoven to give basic explanations of phenomena and also show the limitations in these explanations and identify some fundamental questions.

Compared to conventional plasma physics textbooks this book focuses on the concepts relevant in the large-scale space plasmas. It combines basic concepts with current research and new observations in interplanetary space and in the magnetospheres.

Graduate students and young researchers starting to work in this special field of science, will find the numerous references to...

Cosmic Perspectives is a collection of essays that details modern cosmology and its relationship to the development of human civilization. Written by leading astronomers, cosmologists and historians, these fourteen essays cover a wide range of subjects. These include the place of astronomy in China, frontiers in cosmology, the dark matter problem and the origin of life. This is an engaging collection of facts, written in nontechnical language, which encourages the reader to explore the scientific heritage of various cultures, the current problems of observational astronomy, the unsolved...

Most galaxies lie in clusters, where tidal interactions are a significant force. Tidal and dynamical interactions and the features they cause in galaxies are important to the study of galactic evolution. For example, a large amount of data has been collected on dust-lane ellipticals, polar-ring galaxies, spirals with extended warps, and galaxies with inclined HI rings or unusual "tails." This book is a record of a meeting held at the University of Pittsburgh that provided an informal, yet focused environment for the interaction of astronomers who have addressed these questions with a wide...

This first comprehensive and coherent introduction to modern quantum cosmology presents a useful survey of the many profound consequences of supersymmetry (supergravity) in quantum cosmology. Covering a general introduction to quantum cosmology, Hamiltonian supergravity and canonical quantization and quantum amplitudes through to models of supersymmetric mini superspace and quantum wormholes, it also includes exciting further developments, including the possible finiteness of supergravity. With ample introductory material, this topical volume is well suited as a graduate text for students and...

In the past two decades, scientists have made remarkable progress in understanding stars. This graduate-level textbook provides a systematic, self-contained and lucid introduction to the physical processes and fundamental equations underlying all aspects of stellar astrophysics. The timely volume provides authoritative astronomical discussions as well as rigorous mathematical derivations and illuminating explanations of the physical concepts involved. In addition to traditional topics such as stellar interiors and atmospheres, the reader is introduced to stellar winds, mass accretion, nuclear...

Using mathematics appropriate for advanced undergraduate students in physics, this textbook provides a broad and wide-ranging introduction to the Sun as a star. Tayler provides succinct derivations of key results--such as the properties of spectral lines, the theory of stellar oscillations, plasma physics, magnetohydrodynamics and dynamo theory--in nine handy appendices, ensuring that the book is completely self contained. Altogether, this is an invaluable textbook for students studying the Sun, stars, the solar-terrestrial environment and the formation of planetary systems.

Drawing on previously unused archival material, Erich Robert Paul presents the first complete examination of cosmological science and the conception of the galaxy during this formative period. He describes the rise of statistical cosmology, its establishment as the leading area of astronomical research, and finally its decline and the transition to modern methods. He pays particular attention to the accomplishments of two influential astronomers of this period, J. C. Kapteyn and Hugo von Seeliger.

High-performance CCD cameras have opened up a new window on the Universe for amateur astronomers. This book provides a complete, self-contained guide to choosing and using CCD cameras. It begins with an introduction to how a CCD camera works and just what determines its performance. It then shows how to use a CCD camera and calibrate accurately the images obtained. A clear review is then provided of the software available for visualising, analyzing and processing digital images. Finally, it guides the reader through a series of key areas in astronomy where the best use of CCD cameras can be...

In this timely volume, the editors present eight specially-written chapters by experts renowned for their teaching skills. The chapters show how astronomers can deduce the internal composition (density, helium abundance, etc.) and dynamical structure (rotation, sub-surface velocity fields, etc.) of the Sun through helioseismology, and how researchers can infer the central temperature from measurements of the flux of solar neutrinos.

This book is the official history of the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT), which was built at Coonabarabran in New South Wales beginning in 1968; it came into operation in 1974. The telescope is part of the Anglo-Australian Observatory which provides facilities for research in optical astronomy for scientists from Britain and Australia. Between them, the authors of this book were all involved in different capacities throughout the development of the telescope. As such it gives a detailed and personal record of the scientific, administrative and political developments from the moment...

Aristotle believed that the outermost stars are carried round us on a transparent sphere. There are directions in the universe and a preferred direction of rotation. The sun, moon and planets are carried on different revolving spheres. The spheres and celestial bodies are composed of an everlasting fifth element, which has none of the ordinary contrary properties like heat and cold which could destroy it, but only the facility for uniform rotation. But this creates problems as to how the heavenly bodies create light, and, in the case of the sun, heat. The topics covered in this part of...

ASTRONOMERS' OBSERVING GUIDES provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments.

Beginning with some basic facts about the observable universe the authors consider in successive chapters the complete range of topics that make up a degree course in cosmology and particle astrophysics. The outstanding feature of this book is that it is self-contained, in that no specialised knowledge is required on the part of the reader, apart from basic undergraduate mathematics and physics.

This paperback edition will again target students of physics, astrophysics and cosmology at the advanced undergraduate level or early graduate level. One of the book's biggest strong points...

This book views Mercury as a whole in the context of its environment. It illustrates what we know and what we need to know, and why understanding Mercury is so crucial to our understanding of solar system origin and current processes on Earth. The book describes our current state of knowledge for Mercury and interactions between interior, exterior, and space environment which are highly dynamic and thus critical to understanding Mercury as a system.

New advanced astrobiology textbook providing the most comprehensive coverage currently available.

An outgrow of an earlier workshop held by the community of European Solar Radio Astronomers (CESRA), this topical volume collects reviews on the current multiwavelength findings and perspectives from the space missions RHESSI, TRACE and SOTTO. The aspects of solar physics dealt with are particle acceleration during flares, large-scale disturbances, and coronal plasma physics.

With contributions from leading scientists in the field, and edited by two of the most prominent astronomers of our time, this is a totally authoritative volume on X-ray astronomy that will be essential reading for everyone interested - from students to astrophysicists and physicists. All the aspects of this exciting area of study are covered, from astronomical instrumentation to extragalactic X-ray astronomy.

This book provides a theoretical and observational overview of the state of the art of gamma-ray astrophysics, and their impact and connection with the physics of cosmic rays and neutrinos. With the aim of shedding new and fresh light on the problem of the nature of the gamma-ray sources, particularly those yet unidentified, this book summarizes contributions to a workshop that continues today.

What shape is the universe? Is it curved and closed in on itself? Is it expanding? Where is it headed? Could space be wrapped around itself, such that it produces ghost images of faraway galaxies? Such are the questions posed by Jean-Pierre Luminet in The Wraparound Universe, which he then addresses in clear and accessible language. An expert in black holes and the big bang, he leads us on a voyage through the surprising byways of space-time, where possible topologies of the universe, explorations of the infinite, and cosmic mirages combine their mysterious traits and unlock...